Patents Assigned to GM
  • Patent number: 9540738
    Abstract: Both the reaction of hydride-forming compositions with hydrogen to form hydrides, and the decomposition of such hydrides to release hydrogen may be promoted electrochemically. These reactions may be conducted reversibly, and if performed in a suitable cell, the cell will serve as a hydrogen storage and release device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Wen Li, Ping Liu, Frederick E. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 9539892
    Abstract: The transmission includes an input shaft rotatable about a first axis of rotation, and a countershaft arranged substantially parallel with the input shaft and rotatable about a second axis of rotation. An output member is operatively connected to rotate in unison with the countershaft. Multiple pairs of intermeshing gears are included, each having a respective synchronizable gear that rotates about one of the input shaft and the countershaft, and a respective fixed gear mounted to the other one of the input shaft and the countershaft to rotate in unison therewith. An electric motor has a rotor concentric with and rotatable about the first axis of rotation. A first synchronizer is selectively engageable to synchronize rotation of the rotor with the input shaft. A second synchronizer is selectively engageable to synchronize rotation of the rotor with one of the synchronizable gears that rotates about the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Ross, Scott H. Wittkopp
  • Patent number: 9544853
    Abstract: A method and system for selective activation of a vehicle near field communication (NFC) module. The vehicle NFC module may be part of a vehicle communication and access system capable of initiating various vehicle functions, such as unlocking one or more doors of the vehicle or starting a motor or engine of the vehicle. With the method and system, a user's mobile device can be used in lieu of a key or a key fob. In situations where the battery power level of the user's mobile device is low, such that Bluetooth or the generation of an active NFC signal is unavailable, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in an active mode. In the active mode, the vehicle NFC module can initiate a connection with a passive mobile NFC target. Otherwise, depending on the battery level of the user's mobile device, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in a standard sleep mode to save power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wen Gu, Amanda J. Kalhous, Karen Juzswik
  • Patent number: 9539962
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system for a vehicle is described which includes an electrical energy source supplying a first vehicle electrical system branch and a second vehicle electrical system branch. The first vehicle electrical system branch include a first electrical consumer with an inrush current requirement and a first inductance connected in series with the first consumer. The second vehicle electrical system branch includes a second electrical system voltage-sensitive consumer with a minimum system voltage requirement and a second inductance connected to the second consumer in series or in parallel. The first vehicle electrical system branch and the second vehicle electrical system branch are connected electrically in parallel to one another, and the first inductance and the second inductance are magnetically coupled to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Peter Ramminger
  • Patent number: 9539919
    Abstract: An adjusting device for adjusting a motor vehicle seat is provided. The adjusting device includes an engagement fitting unit, a force transmission device configured to transmit a force for locking and unlocking the engagement fitting unit, and a force step-up transmission device configured to step up the force transmitted by the force transmission device. A motor vehicle seat, a motor vehicle, and a method for adjusting a motor vehicle seat using the adjusting device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Andrzej Pleskot
  • Patent number: 9543103
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, to protect against electrical shock, using a transformable material. The system includes the transformable material, being: (1) connectable electrically to an electrical component having an unwanted electrical charge and (2) changeable between a deformed shape and an undeformed shape based on electrical input resulting from the electrical charge at the electrical component. The transformable material is also (3) connected mechanically to the safety mechanism so that change in the transformable material causes movement of the safety mechanism. The transformable material is further (4) configured and arranged in the system to, in response to being exposed to the electrical input, change to its undeformed shape and thereby actuate the safety mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9539922
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed as having a seat structure with an upper transverse strut for receiving a headrest of the vehicle seat. The headrest has right and left headrest rods for coupling with the upper transverse strut. The transverse strut 6 includes right and left receiving openings for the right and left headrest rods. The headrest may be arranged with the headrest rods in various guide channels to define first and second mounting positions relative to the upper transverse strut. The headrest in the first mounting position is offset transversely to the seat direction with respect to the headrest in the second mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
  • Patent number: 9541113
    Abstract: In one aspect, a component for an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The component includes a body, an inner wall formed in the body and defining an alignment aperture, and an alignment member. The alignment member includes a pair of tabs extending from the body, and the alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into another alignment aperture of another component, the alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged configuration to facilitate aligning the component relative to the another component of the elastically averaged alignment system. The alignment aperture is configured to receive another alignment member of another component of the elastically averaged alignment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Jennifer P. Lawall
  • Patent number: 9539643
    Abstract: A method of making metal nanostructures having a nanometer size in at least one dimension includes preparing an aqueous solution comprising a cation of a first metal and an anion, and mixing commercial elemental powder particles of an elemental second metal having a greater reduction potential than the first metal with the aqueous solution in an amount that reacts and dissolves all of the second metal and precipitates the first metal as metal nanostructures. The temperature and concentration of the aqueous solution and the selection of the anions and the second metal are chosen to produce metal nanostructures of a desired shape, for example ribbons, wires, flowers, rods, spheres, hollow spheres, scrolls, tubes, sheets, hexagonal sheets, rice, cones, dendrites, or particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xueliang Sun, Gaixia Zhang, Mei Cai, Shuhui Sun, Ruying Li
  • Patent number: 9542846
    Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system includes a lane marker module configured to determine a heading and displacement of a vehicle in response to images received from a secondary sensing device, a lane information fusion module configured to generate vehicle and lane information in response to data received from heterogeneous vehicle sensors and a lane controller configured to generate a collision free vehicle path in response to the vehicle and lane information from the lane information fusion module and an object map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, William J. Chundrlik, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9539666
    Abstract: A method is provided for welding together a tubular member of a first metal and a tubular member of a second metal that is dissimilar to the first metal. The method includes making a transition attachment by friction welding together end-to-end a first end of a rod of the first metal with a first end of a rod of the second metal. An arc weld welds together a second end of the rod of the first metal with the tubular member of the first metal. And another arc weld welds together a second end of the rod of the second metal to the tubular member of the second metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yen-Lung Chen, Xiaohong Q. Gayden, Steven J. Wesoloski, Matthew D. Scrase
  • Patent number: 9540950
    Abstract: An oil deflector includes a segment array extending radially from a sleeve portion defining a longitudinal axis and configured for mounting on a shaft. The segment array includes a plurality of segments arranged circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis and defines at least one oil diverting feature configured to create a pressure differential proximate the segment array or across a surface of the segment array during rotation of the oil deflector about the longitudinal axis. The segment array may define an oil diverting feature configured as a radially tapered peripheral surface, an axially inclined annular surface, at least one slot inclined relative to an annular surface of the array, and/or a combination of these configured to divert oil axially and/or radially from the oil deflector during rotation by the shaft in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Malay Maniar
  • Patent number: 9540987
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a coolant valve, a valve control module, and a fault diagnostic module. The coolant valve includes a first valve chamber, a second valve chamber, and a partition disposed between the first and second valve chambers. The coolant valve further includes a first end stop disposed on a first outer perimeter surface of the first valve chamber and a second end stop disposed on a second outer perimeter surface of the second valve chamber. The valve control module rotates the coolant valve in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction. The fault diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the coolant valve based on a measured position of the coolant valve as the coolant valve is rotated in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9541049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable-operated actuating device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a transmission, comprising: an actuating means having a recess for inserting a coupling connector of a cable control, a blocking means which is radially displaceable in the recess and in a radially outer position permits an axial displacing of the coupling connector in the recess and in a radially inner position axially fixes the coupling connector against an inserting direction in a positively connected and/or frictionally connected manner, a housing, which receives a connecting point between the coupling connector and the recess, and an actuating means for radially displacing the blocking means, which can be actuated outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dino Demma, Dirk Eisinger
  • Patent number: 9539938
    Abstract: A removable roof panel for a vehicle body having a compartment includes an outer panel, a perimeter frame connected to the outer panel and having a first locator feature configured to engage a second locator feature of the compartment, and latching handles operatively connected to the perimeter frame, and operable for latching and unlatching the perimeter frame from the vehicle body. The roof panel includes a lamp connected to the perimeter frame proximate the first locator feature, a battery electrically connectable to and operable for energizing the lamp, and a lamp actuator. The lamp actuator is configured to selectively connect the lamp to the battery when the removable roof panel is removed from the vehicle body to thereby illuminate the first and second locator features during stowing of the removable roof panel in the compartment. A vehicle includes the vehicle body and the removable roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony A. Bosco, Robert A. Dziurda
  • Patent number: 9537164
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring fuel cells in a fuel cell group. The system includes a sensor circuit, such as a voltage sensor circuit, that monitors a condition of the fuel cells. If the sensor circuit detects a low performing cell, then it sends a signal to a tone generator that generates a frequency signal that switches a load into and out of the cell group. A voltage sensor detects the voltage of the cell group including the frequency signal, and sends the detected voltage signal to a tone decoder that decodes the frequency signal to determine that the fuel cells are low performing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David D. Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye
  • Patent number: 9533654
    Abstract: A vehicle system and method that include a smart phone for communicating with a vehicle by an authorized user. The vehicle includes an FM transmitter that transmits vehicle information, including an authorization code, using an FM signal. The FM signal is received by the smart phone which deciphers the information, and automatically transmits a command signal back to the vehicle to perform a pre-programmed vehicle operation, such as unlocking the vehicle doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, David T. Proefke, Craig Atiyeh, Alan T. Budyta
  • Patent number: 9534543
    Abstract: A system including a DFCO module. The DFCO module is configured to operate in a DFCO mode to deactivate fuel to a cylinder of an engine. A first flow rate module is configured to determine a reaction gas flow rate. An offset module is configured to determine a temperature offset value based on the reaction gas flow rate. A first temperature module is configured to estimate a first temperature of a catalyst of an exhaust system of the engine. A summer is configured to sum the temperature offset value and the first temperature to generate a summation value. A second temperature module configured to estimate a second temperature of the catalyst based on the summation value. A comparison module is configured to perform a first comparison between the second temperature and a threshold and generate an inhibit signal to inhibit operation in the DFCO mode based on the first comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: James A. Goodall
  • Patent number: 9533642
    Abstract: A hierarchical sandwich box impact beam for a vehicle that includes spaced apart micro-truss sandwich structures defining an open area therebetween. The impact beam includes an outer facing sandwich structure including an outer facesheet, an inner facesheet and a micro-truss core formed therebetween, and an inner facing sandwich structure including an outer facesheet, an inner facesheet and a micro-truss core formed therebetween. One or more structural connecting sections are coupled to the inner and outer facing sandwich structures so as to define the open area between the structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jacob M. Hundley, Alan J. Jacobsen, Sophia Yang, Eric C. Clough, Jay C. Kussmaul
  • Patent number: D776021
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Vladimir Kapitonov